Music for Baptism of Our Lord, Year C: January 12, 2025

OPENING VOLUNTARY This Is the Spirit's Entry Now Philip M. Young

See the text and tune at ELW  448.

Land of Rest is one of the most easily recognized American hymntunes. It comes from the shape-note tradition.

The text emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit in baptism, so it's a suitable way to enter into the Thanksgiving for Baptism that follows.

GATHERING HYMN Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (Salzburg) ELW 310

This hymn stands beautifully as a bridge between Epiphany Sunday, today's feast, and even the Sundays to come in the Time after Epiphany. Stanza one tells of the wisemen we sang about last week. Stanza two celebrates Jesus' baptism that we commemorate today and Jesus' turning water into wine that we'll encounter next week.
Throughout the coming Time after Pentecost, may we continue to praise our Lord, "God in flesh made manifest."

HYMN OF THE DAY Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized (Lobt Gott, ihr Christen) ELW 304

A 6th century mosaic depicting the baptism of Jesus
Arian Baptistery, Ravenna, Italy

MUSICAL OFFERING O Living Breath of God John Helgen
See the text and tune at ELW 407.

Between the second and third stanzas, the composer has added a little refrain with the text O living God, breath in us as we pray . . .dwell in us every day. The refrain is sung over a gently flowing accompaniment, suggesting the Spirit of God hovering over the waters at creation, and, perhaps, hovering over the waters at our baptism.

COMMUNION HYMNS

Wade in the Water ELW 459
Light Shone in Darkness ELW 307

Mark Sedio wrote the tune for this hymn. Looking for a water/baptism connection? He wrote it to sound like a sea chanty. And. . .he is coming to St. Mark's!

SENDING HYMN Down Galilee's Slow Roadways ACS 916

A text by the late Sylvia Dunstan, a minister in the Church of Canada, is combined with a tune by Hal Hopson, a prolific composer of church music. This hymn relates the story of Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan River, an event to which we came with the unassuming throngs of ordinary people (soldiers, scribes, and slaves) but which revealed him as the Son of God through a voice from heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit like a dove. Because we are joined to Jesus through our baptism, God claims us also as beloved children. (From Sundays and Seasons)

CLOSING VOLUNTARY PRELUDE IN CLASSIC STYLE Gordon Young (1919-1998)

Young was a prolific composer of church music, especially in the 70s-80s. This is one of his most popular pieces. Although it has no specific liturgical or thematic tie to the day, it's definitely suitable for a festival day!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Sources:
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Sundays and Seasons
Wikipedia By I, Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28215651 (mosaic)

Music for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year C: December 15, 2024

ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS

The format for Christmas Lessons and Carols dates back to 1880 at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, England where it was first sung on Christmas Eve. Today's service is Advent-themed, featuring writings from the Prophet Isaiah and two of the four canonic gospel writers.

Truro Cathedral

OPENING MUSIC A Call to Advent J. Jerome Williams

Yes, this is usually the spot for an organ voluntary, but today the Festival Choir presents a quodlibet - a form of musical composition that combines melodies. Here are two of the best-know Advent melodies: Veni, Emmanuel ("O Come, O Come, Emmanuel") and Picardy ("Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence").

We often think of Advent's meaning as two-fold, Jesus' incarnation at the manger in Bethlehem, then his coming in glory at the end times. Using Picardy this early in the service also allows to reflect on another way Jesus comes to us - in the mystery of the Eucharist.

The second stanza (not included in this piece)refers to Jesus as "Lord of Lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood" and tells us "he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food."

GATHERING HYMN SAVIOR OF THE NATIONS, COME (Nun komm der Heiden Heiland) ELW 263

Some version of the hymn has been sung by Christians for more than 1,600 years! Ambrose of Milan (340-397) wrote the Latin hymn that Martin Luther eventually translated into German. 

The first three stanzas speak of the incarnation - a definite theme in Advent. Stanza four speaks of Christ's triumph over death and his being seated at God's right hand. The fifth stanza gives us a little glimpse of Christmas before the final stanza in praise of the Trinity.

FIRST LESSON Isaiah 64:1-9 

God commissions Isaiah to be the Prophet of the Advent.

The Night Will Soon Be Ending (Llangloffan)

Isaiah, by Antonio Balestra (1666-1740)

Night is a common theme in Advent Hymns: "Lost in the Night," "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night," "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying."
We think of the people who "walked in darkness," as being people from ancient times, but we still experience darkness today, in both or personal and our collective lives.

The author of this text, Jochen Klepper (1903-1942) lived under the power of the Third Reich in Nazi Germany. The experiences he endured with his family brought insomnia and vivid nightmares. This may have been a life-long situation, but Klepper bore it with the assurance that even when nights bring sadness and "rob our hearts of peace," God dwells with us, redeems us from sin, and claims us as children.

Klepper married a woman from a Jewish family and they had two daughters. His wife, Johanna Stein, was baptized just prior to their wedding. When his daughter was denied a visa, the three of them turned on a gas valve in their home and died by suicide. Klepper's last words, recorded in his diary, were, "Tonight we die together. Over us stands in the last moments stands the image of the blessed Christ who surrounds us. With this view we end our lives."

This hymn comes from Lutheran Service Book, the current hymnal in use by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

SECOND LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7

God promises a child who will bring peace.

Lost in the Night (Lost in the Night) ELW 243

lighting candles for and
evening service at St. Mark's

You can feel the mourning and pleading in this Finnish melody. The last line of each stanza is repeated, giving a sense of urgency that is only emphasized by using the word "soon."
Will not day come soon? Will not day come soon?
Will you help us soon? Will you help us soon?
Christ is coming soon! Christ is coming soon!
Come and save us soon! Come and save us soon!

THIRD LESSON Isaiah 65:17-25

God promises a new creation.

Joy to the World (Antioch) ELW 267
"Finally! A Christmas carol!" This may be the first thought of some, but let's examine the text. Where is the manger? Where are Joseph and Mary? Where are the shepherds?
You can look, but I promise you won't find them because this hymn is about Jesus' second coming! So, it's an Advent hymn and not a Christmas one. (But you can still feel happy about singing it!)

FOURTH LESSON Luke 1:26-38

First United Methodist Church
Gainesville, FL

The Angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A Stable Lamp Is Lighted Mark Sedio

Sung by the Festival Choir, this text by Richard Wilbur (1921-2017) ponders the words of Gabriel in a poetic manner, foreshadows the passion and crucifixion, and ends with a reminder that the reason for the incarnation is for creation to be reconciled to God, including us.

FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:39-45

The Blessed Virgin Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.

My Soul Rejoices (In dir ist Freude)

If I had to choose a favorite gospel, I would choose the gospel of Luke. Why? Because it's where all the songs are, the first one being Mary's "Magnificat anima mea" (My soul magnifies the Lord).

The metrical setting we sing today also comes from Lutheran Service Book. Stephen Starke's text is paired with the dancing Lutheran tune In dir ist Freude, most often sung with the text In Thee Is Gladness.

Other songs from Luke's gospel include the Song of Zechariah (which we sang last Sunday), Glory to God in the Highest, and the Song of Simeon (Lord, Now You Let Your Servant Depart in Peace). 

This hymn also comes from Lutheran Service Book.

SIXTH LESSON Matthew 1:18-23
St. Matthew tells of the coming birth of Jesus.

Love Has Come (Un flambeau) ELW 292

We conclude with another dancing tune, the one used for the French carol Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella. A true Christmas hymn/carol, it serves as a joyful endpoint for our service of Advent Lessons and Carols.

St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Port Jervis, NY

MUSICAL OFFERING O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Gordon Young

We welcome Jane Daugherty to play the musical offering today. Jane has been a member of St. Mark's for many years and often serves as a substitute organist when I am away.
Jane is also one of two musicians who serve as organist/choirmaster at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Arlington.
When she is not at St. Andrew's, or substituting somewhere else, she is a valued member of our Festival Choir.
She's also my good friend.

COMMUNION HYMN In a Deep, Unbounded Darkness (Divinum Mysterium) ACS 1093

This text that originated as a theme song for a Bible study institute in China is a meditation on the eternal nature of God. Like the hymn Of the Father's Love Begotten, with which this tune is often paired, we begin in the time before creation when God claimed us. After praising God's steadfastness in stanza two, our joy overflows at the incarnation in stanza three. Finally, stanza four returns us to the realm of eternity, joining together the beginning and final chapters of the Bible by connecting references to stories from Genesis and Exodus with the wedding feast of the Lamb in Revelation. (Sundays and Seasons)

SENDING HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Emmanuel) ELW 257

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Fugue on "Savior of the Nations, Come" Jacob B. Weber

Sources:
Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress)
Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns
Wikipedia
Image of Truro Cathedral: By Tim Green - originally posted to Flickr as Truro Cathedral, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6432493
Isaiah painting: By Antonio Balestra - Bridgeman Art Library: Object 569354, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25016733

Music for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year C: December 8, 2024

HOLY COMMUNION SETTING

St. Mark's expresses a change of seasons through color and music. You may have noticed last Sunday that all our hymns were Advent themed - to support the "propers" of the day. (Propers are the texts that change daily. Most notable are the readings and the Prayer of the Day.)

Last Sunday, our musical changes included a change to the sung setting of Holy Communion. This setting comes from "This Far by Faith," an African American worship resource published by Augsburg Fortress. "This Far by Faith is celebrating its 25-year anniversary this year!

We're using Setting One, also called "River of Life." Tilis Butler wrote this musical setting. I have not been able to learn much about him except that he worked for the Detroit Board of Education for 35 years, as well as being a composer.

This setting features lush chords that support the texts, rather than allowing the style to overshadow them.

OPENING VOLUNTARY An Advent Meditation David Lasky

This musical meditation includes three Advent Hymns: "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus" (Hyfrydol) ELW 254; "Savior of the Nations, Come" (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland) ELW 263; and "Come Now, O Prince of Peace" (Ososo) ELW 247

Last Sunday I found a package in the choir room with a note that included the words "Perhaps your office could use an Advent wreath." Well, not my office, but it's sitting on the piano in the choir room and we will light it at the end of each rehearsal when we say our closing prayer.
Thanks to Gregg and Linda K. for this thoughtful gift!

GATHERING HYMN Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

ELW pairs this Charles Wesley text with the tune "Jefferson," but today we sing it to the Welsh tune "Hyfrydol." This is one of Wesley's 9,000+ hymns! Ordained in 1735 as an Anglican priest, he and his brother, John, were the founders of the Methodist Church.

The hymn speaks of the Messiah as "Israel's strength and consolation," but reminds us he is also the "dear desire of every nation." This second phrase calls to mind the voice of the prophet Haggai in Haggai 2:7.

I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come. . . (NIV)

PSALM

Occasionally, the psalm isn't from the book of Psalms. Today's psalm comes from Luke's gospel. Often called the "Benedictus" or "Canticle of Zachariah," it's also part of ELW's Morning Prayer service - which is where the setting we sing this morning can be found.

HYMN OF THE DAY On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (Puer nobis) ELW 249

This hymn echoes much of the gospel reading. In the first two stanzas, we sing of John the Baptist and his proclamation that the one who brings salvation is near. Our response to his call is to be cleansed from sin so that we can better be prepared to receive Christ.

The next two stanzas are addressed to Christ. We hail him as Savior, acknowledge our need for grace. We ask him to bring healing - not just to our bodies, but to our souls. Our response to the favor he shows us is to live lives that fills the world with divine love - the love of God.

The doxological stanza that ends the hymn is one of thanksgiving to Christ, who wins freedom for us by his coming.

MUSICAL OFFERING Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates David von Kampen

The text is from Psalm 24:7. A Christian read of the psalm recalls Jesus' triumphal coming into Jerusalem. This reminds us of a future coming, when "he shall come to judge the living and the dead." Thus, it's well-suited to the season of Advent.

Von Kampen's setting makes use of a fun, baroque-styled interlude that lends a joyful moment to our worship.

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (Wie soll ich dich empfangen) ELW 241

How do we welcome Christ? The meaning is two-fold when we sing this hymn in the context of communion. First, we have the Advent element of welcoming Jesus, but then at communion we acknowledge his true presence in the elements, another way he comes to us.

Stanzas 2 and 3 take on very personal language. "Love brought you down to ME. . . Your thirst for MY salvation procured MY liberty."

The fourth stanza (Paul Gerhardt originally wrote 10 stanzas) is an invitation to all who are living in a sinful state to join in our rejoicing at our Lord's appearing. Christian hymnody often speaks of heaven as "home," and this stanza ends with a prayer that Jesus would guide us there. 

SENDING HYMN All Earth Is Hopeful (Toda la tierra) ELW 266

CLOSING VOLUNTARY He Came Down setting, David Lasky
How do you take and African folk song and translate into an organ postlude? David Lasky adds rhythmic flourishes that result in a sort of theme and variations where the tune is straightforward in each iteration, but the accompanying flourishes add some playful pizazz.

He has little to do with Advent, but this fella lives 20 steps from St. Mark's.
I thought he deserved a little love!

Sources:

Wikipedia!
Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress)
Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns (Concordia Publishing House)

Music for the First Sunday of Advent, Year C: December 1, 2024

OPENING VOLUNTARY The King Shall Come Thomas Keesecker

(See the text and tune at ELW 260.)

We often like to think of Advent as a time to prepare for Christmas and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem; but this hymn (along with today's gospel reading) is focused on the Lord's second coming.
The gospel reading tells that people will "faint from fear and foreboding." Perhaps these feelings of terror are what caused the composer to interweave the African American Spiritual "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" into this arrangement. The spiritual dates back to the time of slavery, recalling a time when children were taken from their parents and sold to new masters, often ones who lived far away.
Thankfully, God's children will come through the terror and find their redemption.

GATHERING HYMN Hark, the Glad Sound (Chesterfield) ELW 239

PSALM 25 
This metrical setting is sung to one of my favorite tunes - Bred dina vida vingar - a Swedish tune that has the feel of a lullaby. It's a good match for a psalm about trust in God.

HYMN OF THE DAY Prepare the Royal Highway (Bereden väg för Herran) ELW 264

While the second stanza of this hymn recalls Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the next stanzas are about his second coming. "His rule is. . .justice" has an echo of the Prayer of the Day. 

MUSICAL OFFERING Rejoice! Rejoice! Aaron David Miller

COMMUNION HYMN Comfort, Comfort Now My People (Freu dich sehr) ELW 256

SENDING HYMN Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (Merton) ELW 246

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Trumpet Tune on "Freu dich sehr"
Jerry Westenkuehler
The comforting, dancing tune that we sang during communion is reimagined as a trumpet tune! The melody is carried by the Festival Trumpet, one of the stops that was added to the organ during its expansion in 2013.

Music for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B: April 28, 2024

OPENING VOLUNTARY Ubi caritas et amor  setting, Gerald Near

It is the Holy Spirit's work to gather us together as God's people in a community of faith. This ancient hymn from the ninth century celebrates our communal worship. It is also a prayer that we have no division and that we be on guard against the ways in which we might harm each other.

Finally, it reminds us of the day when we shall see Jesus "face to face in glory and light." And it won't just be our community, but we'll be surrounded by the "blest saints" with whom we will join in worship.

It's a suitable text for meditation as worship begins.

GATHERING HYMN We Know That Christ Is Raised (Engelberg)

ELW 449
The author of the text, John B. Geyer wrote this hymn in 1967. He was a tutor at Chestnut College, Cambridge, U.K. At the time, experiments were being done around producing living cells in the laboratory. Geyer says, "The hymn attempted to illustrate the Christian doctrine of baptism in relation to those experiments." 

Evangelical Lutheran Worship groups We Know That Christ is Raised with baptism hymns - as Geyer intended. But it's easy to see why we also sing it during Easter.

HYMN OF THE DAY Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen! (Earth and All Stars)
ELW 377

Easter lilies in my home garden, 2019
They all came from the Easter celebrations at St. Mark's

Like the gathering hymn, the Hymn of the Day begins with a proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. It reminds us (as if we needed reminding) that we are still in the Easter season.

Herbert Brokering (1926-2009), one of our time's most noteworthy Lutheran hymnwriters, wrote this SECOND text to be used with the same tune as his Earth and All Stars. The text was specifically written to be included in With One Voice. Both texts appear in ELW, and we used them at St. Mark's frequently.

Since ELW's release in 2006, we have sung Earth and All Stars nine times.  We have sung Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen! fifteen times. This means David N. Johnson's tune gets significant play at St. Mark's - 24 times!

The third verse of Alleluia! will especially catch our eyes this morning as Brokering reminds us of what Jesus said - that he is the vine. We are the branches.

MUSICAL OFFERING A Vineyard Grows K. Lee Scott

close-up of the fruit and vine
motif from the organ at St. Mark's

Scott wrote a melody based on an English folk tune to accompany Jaroslav J. Vajda's (1919-2008) text. Like Brokering, he is another celebrated Lutheran hymn writer of our time.

The text appeared with Richard Hillert's tune Granton in Lutheran Book of Worship.

The full text closely aligns with today's gospel reading.

COMMUNION HYMNS
Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song (Bridegroom) ELW 403
Where Charity and Love Prevail (Twenty-Fourth) ELW 359

SENDING HYMN Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death (Azmon)

ELW 452

Is there a more stalwart tune than Azmon? This hymn also carries reminders that we are still in Easter. It also offers us advice on how to live in community, that we should walk in love and forgive each other as Christ forgave us.
It's a suitable text to carry with us as the Spirt who gathered us, now sends us witnesses to the good news of Jesus Christ. 
Awake! Arise! Go forth in faith!

Ruth V. took this photo of choir members and worship assistants
preparing for this year's Easter vigil

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Now the Green Blade Rises (Noël Nouvelet)

setting, Wayne L. Wold

Sources:
Wikipedia
Hymn Notes for Church Bulletins, Austin C. Lovelace, GIA Publications, Inc.
The Hymnal Companion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Music for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year B: April 14, 2024

OPENING VOLUNTARY This Joyful Eastertide (Vruechten)

setting, Ronald A. Nelson

I often like to choose opening voluntaries that act as a preview of something later in the service. In this case, it's the melody of the Sending Hymn, This Joyful Eastertide.

Here is a reminder that we are in an Easter tide. Easter is not just a day, but a season of 50 days that includes Ascension of Our Lord and finds its culmination in Pentecost. 

This hymn is sometimes called an Easter carol - and why not? It has a danceable tune (courtesy of the Dutch people) and even a melisma at the end - a series of notes sung under a single syllable.  How do you sing it without thinking of Angels We Have Heard on High and its "Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria!"

The refrain is a joyful reminder that Jesus has risen. It's a perfect way to begin, and finish, a worship service in Eastertide.

GATHERING HYMN As We Gather at Your Table (In Babilone) ELW 522

Jesus' disciples share a piece of broiled fish with him, and he eats it in their presence.

This gathering hymn reminds us how we are fed through God's word and the Lord's supper. It ends with the words "repeat the sounding joy." Carl P. Daw, the author, intentionally quoted the famous Christmas hymn on purpose. (It's not really a Christmas hymn - but that's not the focus of today's post.) The people of Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church (Virginia Beach, Virginia) asked him to include these words that echoed the theme of their celebration commemorating the 300th year of their founding.

HYMN OF THE DAY Around You, O Lord Jesus (O Jesu, än de dina) ELW 468

Sweden's national church, Lutheran in its identity, adopted the Augsburg Confession in 1593. Some 50 years later, the Diocese of Härnösand was formed, and that is where this hymn came from. The author is Frans Michael Franzén, who was bishop of the diocese from 1832 - 1847.

Frans Michael Franzén
by Johan Gustaf Sandberg (1823)
via Wikipedia

Franzén's hymn reminds us that Jesus is still present with his people, and in the context of a communion hymn reminds us of the unique way we experience Christ's true presence in the Lord's supper. Indeed, the opening words, "Around YOU, O Lord, Jesus. . ." depict our gathering at the table, and not simply gathering for corporate worship or for a memorial.

MUSICAL OFFERING Ancient Words Lynn DeShazo, arr. Mary McDonald
This arrangement of a contemporary praise song (1999) has become one of our choir's favorites.

I chose it after reading Jesus' words in today's gospel reading. These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you - that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 

COMMUNION HYMNS
Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises (Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona) ELW 535

Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia (Mfurahine, haleluya) ELW 364

Both of our communion hymns have their origins in Africa - South Africa and Tanzania, respectively.
The first focuses on communion themes and the second on the Easter message, but both have a strong "sending theme" that sends US to spread the gospel of Jesus' resurrection.

SENDING HYMN This Joyful Eastertide (Vruechten) ELW 391

CLOSING VOLUNTARY At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Sonne der Gerechtigkeit) 

setting, Jeffrey Blersch

Sources:

Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Wikipedia
The Resurrection of Christ, an Icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church is believed to be in the public domain.z

Praising the Lamb graphic from SundaysandSeasons.com

Music for Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday, Year B: March 24, 2024

GATHERING HYMN All Glory, Laud, and Honor (Valet will ich dir geben) ELW 344

Bishop Theodulph of Orleans is credited with writing this hymn some time in the 8th century. The story goes that Charlemagne had brought him to France and installed him as Bishop of Orleans. After Charlemagne's death, Theodulph was accused of traitorous acts against the new king, Louis the Pious. This, naturally, landed Theodulph in jail.
The story continues that on Palm Sunday, Louis was on his way to church when he heard Theodulph singing from his cell. Theodulph's hymn, which he wrote, so moved the king that he freed Theodulph from prison, restored his bishopric, and declared that the hymn, "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" should always be sung during Palm Sunday processions.
It's just a story though, however nice. There is no evidence that Louis was in the same city where Theodulph was imprisoned, and no historical evidence that Theodulph's position was ever restored. In fact, it's likely he died in jail.

It's a great hymn for Palm Sunday, but there is no rule that it always be sung for the Palm Sunday procession. Even at St. Mark's we have occasionally used "Fling Wide the Door."

HYMN OF THE DAY There in God's Garden (Shades Mountain) ELW 342

MUSICAL OFFERING My Dying Lord David Lantz III

The text of this anthem is a suitable poem to follow the passion reading. Jesus is compared to a dying lamb, a rose, and the rain.

COMMUNION HYMN My Song Is Love Unknown (Love Unknown) ELW 343

SENDING HYMN Go to Dark Gethsemane (Gethsemane) ELW 347

 CLOSING VOLUNTARY All Glory, Laud, and Honor setting, Kenneth T. Kosche